Decorating the Morgan

Shipwright Matt Barnes installs the billethead on the bow of the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan on Thursday at Mystic Seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard. The gold-leafed piece, a replacement for the ship's original decorative piece, was carved in 1991 by shipwright Roger Hambidge. The Morgan, the last remaining wooden whaling ship and the oldest American commercial vessel still in existence as well as a National Historic Landmark, is slated to be re-launched on July 21 and embark on its 38th voyage, a tour of historic New England ports, in the spring of 2014.Sean D. Elliot/The DayBuy Photo

Published July 12. 2013 12:08AM

Updated July 12. 2013 12:23AM

Shipwright Matt Barnes installs the billethead on the bow of the 19th century whaleship Charles W. Morgan on Thursday at Mystic Seaport's H.B. duPont Preservation Shipyard. The gold-leafed piece, a replacement for the ship's original decorative piece, was carved in 1991 by shipwright Roger Hambidge. The Morgan, the last remaining wooden whaling ship and the oldest American commercial vessel still in existence as well as a National Historic Landmark, is slated to be re-launched on July 21 and embark on its 38th voyage, a tour of historic New England ports, in the spring of 2014.